Below Decks

Below Decks is a newly refurbished, seafront apartment that sleeps 6 guests across 3 comfortable bedrooms. Situated on the Parade in the heart of Swanage with family-friendly beach, restaurants and local shops directly on your doorstep.

Below Decks is accessed via a staircase of 9 steps and laid over one floor (basement). It has no sea views, but the sea is within meters of the apartment.

Below Decks welcomes guests of all ages and is a pet-friendly accommodation, taking up to 2 small well-behaved dogs (first dog is charged at £25, second is free of charge)

It is a non-smoking holiday home, and hen/stag parties are not accepted.

Pre-Arrival:

Bookings are made through Dorset Cottage Holidays via www.dhcottages.co.uk or 01929 481547.

The nearest bus stop is by the Swanage station on Station Approach, about a 5 minute walk from the property. You will also find the main bus station with regular buses from Poole and Bournemouth as well as Wareham. Swanage railway station boasts a fully working steam train with a tourist train that links up to Corfe Castle. Taxis are also available at the station.

By car access is via the A351 through Corfe or by using the ferry that runs every 20 minutes from Poole – Sandbanks. It is then a 15-minute drive from the ferry to the apartment.

Arrival & Parking

• Access to the flat is at the back, where two private parking spaces are available for Below Decks guests only.
• To access the parking space, take a left off the Station Road, just before the Cornish Bakery and carry-on the narrow service road (Mowlem Lane). Below Decks is the first apartment, after the Brook Tea Rooms. Detailed directions will be sent to you before your arrival day.
• There is a chain across the parking space and you will be sent the code along with Arrival instructions.
• Please do not leave your car on the service road as it is a very narrow lane with two-way traffic.
• Please note that the bin lorry could block off the access to the lane on the bin collection days.
• The car park space is approximately 6m wide and 4.5m long.
• There is an outhouse to the right of the car parking space (key to access the outhouse will be left in the apartment).
• There is a raised (1 step) patio area with a wooden table and two wooden benches and flowerpots directly in front of you as you pull into the parking space. The patio is built from the wooden boards.
• There are two sensor lights on the external wall, one above the table with benches and one above the front door.
• You will see two white doors when you park at Below Decks. The one closer to the patio area is the front door to access the apartment. Please do not try to go via the other door as it belongs to the neighbour on the ground floor (their back door).
• There are 9 steps down to access the front door. The key box is located on the back wall to the left of the door at the bottom of the staircase. The key code information will be sent to you prior your arrival day.
• On your right-hand side is a large window facing the twin bedroom.

Property Threshold:

Steps: Situated on the basement floor, the apartment is accessed via 9 steps from the parking area to the bottom of a private area. There is a handrail on the left side of the stairs.

Entrance Doors: The private entrance is the only outside entry point of the apartment. There is a step down upon entering the apartment. The door measurements: 0.73m wide x 1.9m high.

The Apartment Itself:

Open plan dining and living space (4.6m width x 6.4m length)

The apartment boasts an open plan living space, with hall, lounge, kitchen and dining space combined into one.

Upon entering Below Decks, the light switch is on your RHS along with some coat hooks. Please leave all your shoes by the front door.

The space has two large windows and built-in ceiling lights to provide a good amount of lighting. Both windows have full-length curtains for a complete privacy when needed.

There is a functional smoke alarm in the dining/lounge area.

There are three-seater and two-seater sofas with cushions and 2 throws, oval dining table and 6 velvet chairs. There is a large smart LG TV, the Blu Ray DVD player & a TalkTalk WIFI router.

There is a medium size rug. There is also two side tables and two lamps, and six paintings on walls.

The flooring throughout the apartment is varnished oak effect laminates.

You can find some board games (Dominoe’s, jigsaws and cards) on the shelf below the TV.

Kitchen

The kitchen area is equipped with a combination oven microwave (replaced March 2023), induction hob, dishwasher, undercounter fridge with icebox, 4-slice toaster, kettle and a good selection of cutlery and crockery

There is also a selection of child-friendly cutlery and crockery.

The kitchen is L shaped and has a Saniflo macerator pumps sink at the end, with some storage space and bins provided under it. You can find some cleaning products and washing up bowl in the cupboard, under the sink.

Bedroom 1 – Twin (measurements 3.06m width x 4.13m length x 2.19m height)

Door is 0.66m wide x 1.9m high. The door has no lock.

As you enter the apartment and leave your coats on the wall on your RHS, the twin bedroom is located on the right, passed the wall.

There are no steps to access the room.

A large radiator is on your RHS as you walk into the room. The window is above of the beds on the right-hand side (facing the parking and the patio area). There are blackout curtains.

The light is on the LHS as you walk into the room. The room has built-in ceiling lights.

There are two full size single beds, one bedside table, one chest of drawers, one bedside lamp and one chair. There is a small mirror and two paintings on the walls.

The room has built-in shelves, that holds some children’s books.

There is also a built-in wardrobe with hanging shelves and some hanging space. The wardrobe is accessible to everyone and contains an iron, small Henry hoover, bucket with a mop, baby chair booster, some hangers and spare bedding.

Family Bathroom (measurements 1.96m width x 1.86m length)

Family bathroom door is 0.66m wide x 1.9m high. The door is lockable.

There are no steps to access the bathroom.

The switch for the bathroom light is outside on the wall between the bathroom door and twin bedroom door.

Next to the twin bedroom is the family bathroom with a bath, shower over it, sink, small glass shelf, mirror, large towel rail and a Saniflo macerator pump WC. There is a shaving plug by the mirror.

P-shaped bath has a large bath/shower screen and a small grab rail to assist people getting in and out of the tub.

There are three shower heads over the bath: one fixed shower head and two handheld shower heads.

Important: as the apartment is below the level of the main drains, it is vitally important that nothing is put down them which will block them, including paper hankies and wet wipes. They can only handle bodily waste and toilet paper. Immediately after you flush the toilet there will be a loud sound.

Should there be a problem such as blockage, failure or power cut please do not flush the toilets or run any taps as the apartment may flood. Please call Dorset Holiday Cottages.

The toilet, shower and sink in the Utility Room are above the mains drains so unaffected should the Saniflo system fail.

Room 2 – King bedroom (measurements 2.88m width x 3.13m length)

Door is 0.7m wide x 1.9m high. The door has no lock.

There are no steps to access the room.

The light switch is on the LHS as you walk into the room.

There is a wood framed king size bed with two bedside tables and lamps on them. There are sockets on each side of the bed.

There is a tall mirror on the wall, three paintings, a chair and built-in wardrobe with hangers and shelves. You will find a hair dryer in the wardrobe.

The room has built-in ceiling lights and two large windows facing the seafront. They are Fire Escape windows and can be opened for ventilation by using the wooden blocks to support them. Please leave them locked shut when you are out to prevent ingress of water if there is a high tide with bad weather. The windows have curtains.

Ironing board can be found under the bed.

This room leads into the ensuite shower room.

Ensuite – Shower room (measurements 2.9m width x 1.18m length)

Ensuite bathroom houses a walk-in shower, tall towel rail, macerator toilet and basin. There is also a mirror and a small glass shelf under the mirror.

There is a small step to the shower room and another step to get to the shower unit. The shower has a glass door and a plastic shelf in the corner. There are two shower heads – one handheld and one fixed to the wall.

Bedroom 3 – King size bedroom (measurements 3.9 width x 2.8m length)

At the end of the apartment (between kitchen area and bedroom 2) is the largest bedroom.

Door is 0.7m wide x 1.9m high.

There are no steps to access the bedroom.

The light switch on the wall RHS as you walk into the bedroom.

There is a wood framed king size bed with two bedside tables and lamps on them. There are sockets on each side of the bed.

There is a built-in mirror, a chest of drawers, an armchair, two paintings and a built-in wardrobe with hangers and shelves. You will find a travel cot in the wardrobe.

The room has built-in ceiling lights and two large windows facing the seafront. They are Fire Escape windows and can be opened for ventilation by using the wooden blocks to support them. Please leave them locked shut when you are out to prevent ingress of water if there is a high tide with bad weather. The windows have curtains.

There is a radiator under one of the windows.

Other

The thermostat is located next to the cupboard. The information on how to use the thermostat will be in the Welcome Folder in the apartment.

Outhouse (measurements 2.6m width x 2m length x 2.3m high)

The door is 0.7m wide x 1.9m high.

The access to the outhouse is raised by an inch.

You will find a sink with two taps, washing machine, walk-in shower with handheld and fixed shower heads, WC and some cupboards. There is also an airer and a laundry basket.

The Vaillant boiler is in a cupboard, please do not adjust any settings.

The outhouse has two Opaque windows.

Outside the outhouse there is a water hose – please use it for muddy, sandy shoes or to wash your dogs, before entering the apartment.

Additional Information:

Pillows and duvets are all man made, no feathers.

The bins are located by the car parking space. They are locked and shared with another apartment (the code is provided in the welcome folder). The bins are labelled.

Please refer to the information folder situated in the living room for a list of emergency contacts, appliance operating instructions and local information.